{"product_id":"p6115","title":"Bizen sake cup","description":"This is a recent Bizen sake cup by the prodigious talent Harada Juro, who was described as a \"fearsome prospect\" and studied ancient Bizen alongside the great Bizen scholar, Katsura Matasaburo.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThis piece is from one of the final kilns Juro-sensei fired himself. It perfectly captures the characteristics of \"Juro Bizen,\" with its heavy, substantial clay body and bold, dramatic sesame glaze (goma).\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe sake cup is striking for its intense natural glaze, reminiscent of Iga-style pottery, with a pale green natural glaze covering exactly one side of the piece.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhile the scenery of the natural glaze is fascinating, the most notable feature is its form. The bottom-heavy design, reminiscent of an octopus or a pumpkin, gives the entire cup the atmosphere of a mysterious creature from the deep sea.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn terms of usability, despite its unusual appearance, it is a very intuitive piece. Even as a large-sized work, it is not too thick and feels well-balanced in the hand, with a carefully finished rim that makes it very easy to use.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe black spot on the front is a type of \"stone explosion\" (ishihaze), where components within the clay, such as iron, have boiled over and erupted through the surface of the vessel, creating an intriguing effect.\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-san)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 6.8cm x 6.8cm x Height 7.1cm\n\nHarada Juro was born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, in 1941.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAfter graduating from Meiji University and working in a company, he began making pottery around 1969.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe built an anagama kiln in 1971, followed by a climbing kiln the next year, and began his pottery career in earnest.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFrom 1975, under the guidance of ancient Bizen researcher Matasaburo Katsura, he visited old kiln sites to study ancient Bizen pottery.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1991, he built an anagama kiln on Amidayama in Ushimado.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe was particularly skilled at making mortars (suribachi) and created flower vases, tea utensils, and sake vessels, primarily using the coil-building technique, with some parts thrown on a potter's wheel.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe held solo exhibitions all over Japan, including in Tokyo and Osaka.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1983, he held a two-person exhibition with Fushina-yaki potter Kenji Funaki at the National Museum of Ethnology in Australia.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2000, he received the Japan Ceramic Society Award.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2002, his work was exhibited at the opening commemoration exhibition of the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu, and subsequently added to their collection.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2005, his works were acquired by the New Orleans Museum of Art in the United States.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe passed away in 2024.","brand":"原田拾六","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618032210017,"sku":"6115","price":60000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6115.jpg?v=1790231294","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p6115","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}